Hi. I have a male betta that I bought a week ago with no symptoms. I noticed yesterday 2 scales seem to be missing and now today a few more. It eats normally and is very active. Is it early stages of an illness or is it old age? 2 missing are on the top and the rest are confined to one side. Its fins are perfect do I do not believe its tail rot or ich. Anyone with insight and a solution I would be grateful. Other notes, betta is in an aquarium, heated, water clean, live plants, fed flake, live brine shrimp and dried tubiflex. Thanks in advance.
2007-02-03 08:39:29 · 6 answers · asked by soulmanager242 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
You don't mention tank mates, but if there is another fish present that would be my first guess. They can shed scales that are damaged in the move and that would be the second most likely cause. 99% of the time it will be one of these two things.
Unexplained scale loss can be caused by Myxosporidiosis parasites. They take a while to mulitply to the point of causing scale loss and that would explain the lack of symptoms last week. The best cure is adding 2 tblsppons of salt per 5 gallons of the tank, raise the temp to about 86 and do very, very heavy water changes (75% or so) every day for at least a week, 10 days would be even better. Add back the correct perportion of salt after each water change. Clean the filter and anything else in the tank very well and do the water changes by cleaning the gravel. There is no really good paracide for this parasite so you are basically looking to clean them all out without killing the fish or bacteria bed.
It's rarely fatal if caught and treated early enough, you should expect good results.
best of luck with him
2007-02-03 09:01:09 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes Betta's will shed damaged scales. This is not a problem as long as there is no underlying illness in the fish.
you can try adding melafix to the water for a few days to help the fins grow back faster.
The stress of moving into a new home is the most likely cause of the scales falling off but keep an eye on him for a few weeks to make sure that he isn't sick.
Also make sure that you are giving him the best food you can get your hands on. (my guys and gals love frozen brine shrimp and tube worms as a treat)
Good Luck
Eric
2007-02-03 08:55:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Betta's that I actual have had have continually been very lively. on account which you have purely offered him 4 days in the past, could he nonetheless be acclimating on your tank? Did you cycle the tank for 3 or 4 weeks before you place him into it? He may well be experiencing ammonia spikes which might reason him to be torpid and listless. If he remains youthful it may be that he hasn't finished getting all of his shade too. Betta's are finished carnivores so i'm hoping which you recognize to make valuable he gets a good number of Betta nutrition/pellets and a few frozen blood worms. I do desire somebody knows extra to tell you.
2016-12-13 08:09:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is not normal. It could be a sign of bad water quality or of a virus.
2007-02-03 08:53:01 · answer #4 · answered by bzzflygirl 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i think it is normal because it might need new ones and they will grow back eventually and when it does you should not be worried but if you are still not sure after this ask an expert
2007-02-03 08:43:28 · answer #5 · answered by yazzii 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
it is sheading
2007-02-03 08:41:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋